South Carolina election consents

on Wednesday, 25 October 2006 at 10.32 pm by Simon Sarmiento
categorised as ECUSA

The episcopal election in South Carolina of Mark Lawrence has to be approved by a majority of the bishops with jurisdiction and a majority of the diocesan standing committees of ECUSA. (This was the election where one of the losing candidates announced shortly thereafter that he was going to work instead for the Anglican Mission in America, a separate ecclesial body, not part of the Anglican Communion, though with ties to the Province of Rwanda.)

All of this is well within the language of General Convention resolution B033. The resolution “urges restraint,” but still leaves the decisions in the hands of the bishops and Standing Committees. So, these groups appeal to those bishops and Standing Committees.

I think the argument about one’s commitment to ordination vows is pertinent. However, I don’t know how compelling it will be when the person hasn’t yet taken those vows. This may well once again requirement measurement by behavior after rather than prevention of the ordination.